Citizens for a Safe Golden Gate Bridge
Robert M. Guernsey
Founder & Chairman of the Board
Director Kirkbride
Mayor of San Rafael
Director - Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
City Hall. San Rafael, CA.
Dear Mr. Boro:
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Citizens for a Safe Golden Gate Bridge |
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Robert M. Guernsey |
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Founder & Chairman of the Board |
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| Director Schweiger |
Director Kirkbride |
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Mr. Albert Boro Mayor of San Rafael Director - Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District City Hall. San Rafael, CA. Dear Mr. Boro: |
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| We would like to thank you for your time an this opportunity to discuss
with Citizens for a Safe Golden Gate Bridge founder and Director, your
insight and leading role with the Movable Median Traffic Barrier issue
(BSI). The movable median barrier will play an essential role in saving lives on the span, if a new
policy is adopted for the installation of the BSI's new barrier. We would also so like to thank you
for your great interest that you have exhibited on several occasions as a
board of director member during regular section meeting held at the District
Administration Building in San Francisco, CA. Mr. Boro, you have exhibited to your piers and to the
public, that you are in favor of saving lives and provided leadership to
other directors that may not share your view.
With your leadership and effort other directors will follow your
insight and common sense, we are praying that you continue to lead the fight
and exhibit to others that there is a need for BSI's barrier on the Golden
Gate Bridge. As an observer to the testing of the one-foot barrier it was
plain as day, that if it had occupants in the four vehicles tested that all
would have surveyed the impact, both at seven degrees and at 25 degrees. After much study on the mmb issue, there doesn't seem
to be another mmb that will work on our Golden Gate Bridge. It has been said
many times by General Manager Champion, former President Robert Mc
Donald, Director Brown, Director Simms, an many others including yourself, Analysis and Testing Service: |
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| · Design of Experiments
· Data Acquisition · Data Processing · Environmental Materials Testing |
· Full Scale Vehicle Impact Testing · Static and Dynamic Materials Testing · Vibration and Endurance Testing |
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* Testing and evaluation of safety features is
conducted in strict accordance with Nationally and Internationally recognized procedures and
standards.
On Wednesday March 27, 1997; John F.
LaTurner, P.E. from E-Tech and his crew held there certification testing involving a 1800
lbs. Ford Festiva car, and on Thursday March 28, 1997, a Chevy 3/4 ton
pick-up truck- both were traveling at approximately sixty-two m.p.h. at a
twenty-five degree angle in the community of Lincoln, CA
In attendance were Director. Schweiger, Director Kirkbride, and Chairman
Robert Guernsey; the media was
there in force as well as Barrier Systems Inc., being well represented.
Several Cal-Trans representatives were also there to observe the crash test. On Wednesday Mr. Carney J. Campion
general manager, John Fraser President of the board, Attorney for the
district, and Mr.
Giacomini-District Engineer were in attendance, and on
Thursday only the district engineer showed up to observe. "Am I to understand that out of a
membership of nineteen board members, nobody could find time to view the
test for him or herself? We are lead to believe that the district has either made-up
its mind to install the movable median barrier or it just is not interested
in saving the public lives, and is not willing to install this needed
barrier.
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For
the first time in as many years as eleven, the Golden Gate Bridge,
Highway and Transportation District has made an effort to control and
prevent head-on collisions on the span.
In June of 1996 the first of five head-on collisions occurred and one
death.
The
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District and the Board of
Directors have allocated $ 42.500.00 to Barrier Systems Inc., of Carson
City, NV. In July of 1996,
for the development of their "New" one-foot wide steel clad,
concrete filled movable median barrier designed specifically for use on the
Golden Gate Bridge span. In an additional to a $50.000,00 grant for a
feasibility study of the BSI's new one-foot movable barrier, being conducted
by Robert K. Seyfried, P.E. from the Northwestern University
Traffic Institute. ·
It
is beyond most people's comprehension how anyone can't see with the
installation of a movable barrier on the span, why it should not save lives
and You Mr. Boro, have an opportunity to
protect, serve and to save human lives. The public hopes that
you will think of their safety when voting on this issue. Our group will be seeking
national TV coverage for this vital and life saving barrier this spring. Director
Schweiger
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46 Elm Avenue ·
San Anselmo, CA. 94960-2210 |
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